During the past few years, the field of diagnostic medical parasitology has seen numerous changes including newly recognized parasites, alternative diagnostic techniques required by regulatory requirements, implementation of new immunoassay techniques and an overall increase in awareness of parasitic infections. Pathogens such as the microsporidia and Cyclospora cayetanensis have moved from the category of "unusual organisms" to becoming more widely recognized as causing important human infections, particularly in the compromised patient.

Newer diagnostic methods continue to be developed, with an emphasis on procedures that are not based on microscopic recognition of subtle organism morphologic details. As laboratories reduce the number of personnel and cross-training and cross-coverage become much more common, the number of laboratorians trained to perform and interpret diagnostic parasitology procedures is diminishing. As fewer trained individuals enter the field of diagnostic microbiology, education and consultation for the laboratorian will continue to grow in importance. It